Sherri Cook, traditional name Yaalthuuaa-uks. Sherri’s parents are Jeff Cook and Laverne Cook (nee Bolton). Her children are Fredrick Cook and Saryta Dick. Her grandparents were Hazel Cook, Jeffrey Robinson, Fanny Williams (nee Cook), Alec Williams, Mary Moses, Vera and Charlie Henry. Sherri’s roots are Huu-ay-aht, Tsimshian, and Nuu-chah-nulth. Her siblings are Debbie Cook and Jason Bolton. She also has many, many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Sherri lived in Anacla Village as a young child until moving to Port Alberni. She attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Alberni Valley. After school, Sherri attended North Island College and Malaspina College. She had many jobs, including Tim Hortons, Forestry Business Receptionist, and Bookkeeper. Formerly, Sherri worked in School District 70 and Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council for 14 years in the Education System. After this, she worked with Huu-ay-aht as the Education Administration and Community Liaison Worker. Sherri is now working at Usma Nuu-chah-nulth Family and Child Services as a Connections Worker. Sherri connects children, families, and youth to their nations and biological families. She has a successful home-based business that does eyelash extensions and Henna Brows. Her daughter, Saryta, and she have a successful home-based business that makes Freeze Dried Candy.
Sherri’s passion is helping children, families and youth. She loves to do fun things and go on adventures. She loves watching her children do the things that they love. She and her family love to travel, and they work very hard to have the ability to go on adventures. Her advice to all is to see the world. She says there is so much out there and encourages everyone, including young people, to go on their adventures, get a degree, meet new people, explore, and when it’s time to put down their roots. Her advice to her children is, “Wherever you are in the world, you are a plane ride away from home. Go have fun and see things.”
Sherri admits she is not perfect; she drank too much as a young person, and she messed up her schooling by skipping and not putting her full efforts into her education. She became a young mom at 16 and had to straighten up her life, finishing school and entering the workforce. Sherri survived abusive relationships; she was a victim of date rape. She experienced a medical emergency that left her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Sherri strongly believes in getting help for your traumas and using the best help, including alternative medicine, herbs, vitamins, neurofeedback, EMDR counselling, mindfulness, meditation, grounding, and cultural wellness. Sherri is keenly aware that we as a Nation are growing and expanding on many horizons, and she hopes in this role, she can help that with a strong Huu-ay-aht Woman vision for stronger families, supported citizens and a healthy community both on treaty settlement land and Urban.
History and Information about Yaałuuwaštak̕amałtḥ house
Francis Moses had a brother, John Moses. John Moses was the Chief of Yaałuuwaštak̕amałtḥ house. He didn’t have children, so he decided to pass the Chieftainship down to Jeff Cook. Jeff Cook held the Chieftainship for over 37 years.
Before Fanny Williams passed away, Sherri Cook’s son, Fredrick Cook, was chosen to succeed Moses Chieftainship Seat. This was announced in the mid-1990s.
In December 2023, Jeff Cook, Sherri Cook’s father, made the decision to have Sherri hold the seat until Fredrick was ready to take on the role. Fredrick is a Commercial Fisherman on a Packer Boat and is rarely on land. Much of this role involves active involvement in meetings, attending gatherings, and being connected to the land, which is something he is not yet ready for. For now, Sherri will do her best to support those in Yaałuuwaštak̕amałtḥ house and seek what is in the best interest of the Nation.
Reasons to contact your Ḥaw̓iił Yaalthuuaa-uks (Sherri Cook)
Personal struggles, needing support to access support both with Huu-ay-aht First Nations and outside agencies, to get help with family issues, to announce great life events, to have family gatherings for cultural purposes, and to vent, talk, or just have a safe space to “be.”
